Carol Dee
Garden Master
My youngest son got 12 barred rocks in April (or May?) There are 10 left. Gnats smothered 2. When can he expect them to start laying. Will he need to provide nest boxes?
Thanks Bay , Son figured out the vanilla spray the day he lost the two. I noticed the combs where getting really red last weekend. I will tell him about the oyster shell and to get a box or two in there soon.Their combs will go from pinkish to bright red as the hormones start to flow. Make sure they don't roost in the nest boxes at night and keep them a supply of oyster shell for strong egg shells. Bear in mind that is an egg cracks, they will eat it.
For future reference on the gnats, spray at night when they are on the roost (because they are still and quiet) with vanilla. It will keep the gnats off.
His set up is really small. I don't think he will do anything fancy. But I will suggest he get some boxes in there.For 10 hens I'd go for at least 4 nest boxes. Mine is a 4' long insulated box built onto the exterior of the coop with a single divider and a hinged lid. When 4 or 5 hens go broody at once it makes the other hens lay their eggs in strange places.
Hopefully your son won't have psycho hens like mine that don't lay eggs, just try to hatch imaginary ones.